Hair treating apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A method of treating human hair and employing a pressure displaceable treating agent in a collapsible flexible container, comprises: A. LOCALLY CONFINING HAIR STRAND IN SAID CONTAINER OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID AGENT, B. PROGRESSIVELY COLLAPSING SAID CONTAINER ALONG A PATH SUCH THAT THE AGENT IS DISPLACED TOWARD AND INTO CONTACT WITH THE CONFINED HAIR STRANDS, AND C. THEREAFTER EFFECTING REMOVAL OF THE CONFINED HAIR STRANDS FROM THE CONTAINER.

limited tates Thompson 1 51 Apr. 10, 1973 154] HAIR TREATING APPARATUS AND FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS METHOD 227,228 8/1958 Australia ..l32/9 [76] Inventor: Russell L. Thompson, 3101 Third 733,333 5/1966 Canada ..132/9 Ave., Corona Del Mar, Calif. 92625 2 Filed; May 1 1971 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Appl. No.: 144,005

[52] US. Cl. ..132/9 [51] Int. Cl. ..A45d 119/00 [58] Field of Search ..l32/9, 7, 36.1 R, 132/362 R, 38 R; 401/83, 84; 222/92, 107; 150/52 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,223,093 12/1965 Winters ..l32/38 R 2,654,372 10/1953 3,586,212 6/1971 3,056,999 10/1962 3,101,724 8/1963 3,452,759 7/1969 2,781,763 2/1957 Assistant Examiner-J. N. Eskovitz Attorney-White, Haefliger and Bachand 57 1 ABSTRACT A method of treating human hair and employing a pressure displaceable treating agent in a collapsible flexible container, comprises:

a. locally confining hair strand in said container out of contact with said agent,

b. progressively collapsing said container along a path such that the agent is displaced toward and into contact with the confined hair strands, and

c. thereafter effecting removal of the confined hair strands from the container.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures HAIR TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION plied to locally confined selected hair strands for con tact with the treating chemicals. Among the problems associated with these products are the difficulty of applying them properly to the hair, the difficulty of introducing chemicals to the interiors of such devices once they have been applied to the hair; the problem of controlling proper contact with the hair of chemicals so introduced; the tendency of these products to hang downwardly after chemicals are introduced, so that the latter flow away from the hair disrupting desired contact or treatment; and the difficulty of removing the device from the hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention to provide method and means for overcoming the above described problems, as well as others encountered in this field.

In its method aspects, the invention involves the employment of a pressure displaceable hair treating agent in a collapsible flexible container, and includes the steps of locally confining hair strands in the container out of contact with the agent; progressively collapsing or squeezing the container along a path such that the treating agent is displaced toward and into contact with the confined hair strands; and, thereafter affecting removal of the hair strands from the container. As will appear, the agent may consist of a hair color alterant, and may be introduced to the container interior prior to confinement of hair strands therein. Also, the removal step may be carried out to separate excess treating agent from the hair and retain the excess within the container, as by wiping action.

In its apparatus aspects, the invention basically comprises a collapsible flexible container receiving pressure displaceable hair treatment agent; the container having an open neck through which hair strands are insertible into the container, and the latter having a closed end remote from the neck, whereby the container may be manually progressively collapsed along a path such that the agent is displaced toward and into contact with the hair strands also introduced into the container via the neck. As will appear, selected hair strands may first be extended through a collapsible aperture formed by a plug, the latter thereafter being telescopically interfitted with the neck when the projecting hair strands are introduced into the container via that neck, whereby the plug seals the container neck and closes against the hair strands to prevent leakage of the agent from the container interior during treatment. In this regard, the plug and neck may have ribs interengaged to retain the plug and neck in telescopically interfitting relation.

Further, the plug may be bifurcated to have arms which are spreadable to laterally receive longitudinal hair strand insertion through the aperture formed between the arms, the latter being held together in response to interfitting of the plug and neck. Additional means may be provided to retain the arms in closed together position, such means for example comprising a spring or a snap-connection.

Finally, multiple containers in the form of tubes may be supported in a highly advantageous manner to be described and by a shipping enclosure, to be filled with treating agent via their necks.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of illustrative embodiments will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of an enclosure supporting multiple containers during filling;

FIG. 2 is a perspective showing of a container and plug application to human hair strands;

FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 but showing manipulation of the container during hair treatment;

FIG. 4 is an exploded elevation, partly in section, of the container and plug of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4-,

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an end elevation taken in the direction of arrow 7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 6 but showing hair strand insertion through the bifurcated plug;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view of a hair strand gathering comb;

FIG. 10 is a sectioned perspective view of a modified plug and container in assembled relation; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective showing of the plug of FIG. 10 partly spread to receive hair strands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 2, the apparatus for treating hair is shown applied to the scalp l0, and as including a collapsible flexible container such as is seen at 11. The container flexible body 12 may for example consist of plastic material such as polyethylene, with a closed end 13 remote from container neck 14. The latter may consist of thickerwalled or stiffer plastic material to which the thinwalled body 12 may be suitably bonded at 15, as better seen in FIG. 4. The bag 12 may fit inside or outside the neck, and they may even be integral. In this regard, it will be understood that hair strands are insertible through the neck and into the body 12, such strands being seen at 16 in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is of unusual advantage that the body 12 be transparent or semi-transparent so that the user, facing a mirror, may see the extent and locale of hair strand insertion and reception into the container, for controlling their treatment by means of an agent, in the manner to be described.

In FIG. 2, the treating agent 17, pre-filled into the container for reception near closed end 13, exerts weight tending to flex the container so that its closed end hangs downwardly keeping agent 17 out of contact with the hair strands 16 prior to the users desire to effect treatment. This enables controlled timing of such treatment, after a number of such containers are similarly attached or applied to different groups of hair strands.

At the desired treatment time, the user merely lifts the container end 13 as shown in FIG. 3, and manually progressively collapses or squeezes the body 12 along a path such that the treating agent is displaced toward and into contact with the hair strands 16 introduced into the container. Thereafter, removal of the hair strands from the container may be effected, as for example in the highly advantageous manner to be described, and the used container with excess treating agent content may be suitably disposed of.

It is an additional feature that a plug is provided for telescopic interfit with neck 14, the plug having a collapsible aperture through which hair strands 16 are adapted to extend, for insertion into the container, as shown. The plug 19, which may consist of a suitable molded plastic such as PVC, is slightly tapered endwise to fit tightly into the neck 14. The plug 19 is bifurcated or incompletely split to form arms 20a and 20b which are spreadable as in FIG. 8 to receive the hair strands through opened aperture or split 21. The arms are held close together to clamp the hair strands and close the aperture in response to said telescopic interfit of the plug and neck.

The arms may also be held together in closed together relation prior to plug and neck interfit, as by auxiliary means, whereby the user may use his fingers to insert the hair strands into the container rather than being concerned with also manually holding arms 20a and 20b clamped on the hair. One such means comprises L-shaped spring member 23 retained on the plug as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8. When the plug and neck are completely assembled as in FIGS. 2 and 3, the treating agent cannot leak therebetween as they form an effect seal at their engaging interfaces. These are shown as flat in FIGS. 4-8, the neck bore to plug being generally rectangular.

FIG. 1 shows a row of containers 11 in filling position, with necks 11 presented upright for reception of treating agent dispensed from a bottle 25. The agent falls to the lower interiors of the containers proximate their closed ends. For this filling purpose, an enclosure or box 27, in which many containers are slipped, may be used as the support structure. A pull tab may be provided on such a box so that when removed a split 28 is formed of a width such that ledges 29 adjacent the split are spaced to support the rectangular necks 14 of the containers, with bodies 12 received downwardly to hang in the box. In this regard, it is contemplated that the containers maybe pre-filled and suitably sealed, as by heating along a narrow line indicated at 50, to obviate the filling step. The seal may then be frangible in response to squeezing of the containers, as described.

The flowable agent 17 may consist of a liquid or powdery color alterant such as a colorant, bleach, frost" or tip" producing substance, toner," etc., these materials being well known and on the market at the present time. Excess agent is retained in the container 12 when the assembled plug and container are pulled off the hair strands 16, the closed arms 20a and 20b wiping" excess agent off the hair strands slipping relatively therebetween. Such removal may be effected after the required treating time -say to 60 minutes, for example. Since the containers are lightweight, they do not then hang down to drain treating agent off the hair during this extended treating time. Thereafter, the

treated hair may be neutralized or shampooed.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, an oval shaped neck 30 and plug 31 are shown, these again being formed of molded plastic material. Container body 32 is bonded to the neck, as before. The plug and neck have ribs engagable to retain them in telescopic interfitting relation when the neck in assembled to the plug. Thus, the plug may have a loop-shaped recess shoulder at 33 to receive corresponding in turned flange shoulder 34 on the neck. Further, the means to hold the plug arms 35a and 35b together may comprise the bayonet connection formed by rib projection 36 on the plug wall 37 which snap-interfits recess 38 on plug wall 39. This connection is adjacent the terminal ends of the arms 35a and 35b as shown. A split 40 is formed between these arms as before, the plug wall extent 41 serving as the hinge, this construction permitting very easy opening and closing movement of the arms for rapid manipulation by the user.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for treating human hair,

a. a collapsible flexible container to receive pressure displaceable hair treating agent in liquid form, I b. said container having an open neck through which hair strands are insertible into the container, said container having a closed end portion remote from said neck, whereby the container may be manually progressively collapsed along a path such that the treating agent is displaced toward and into contact with the hair strands introduced into the container via said neck,

d. the container flexibility characterized in that the closed end portion of the container with the liquid form treating agent therein will normally hang downwardly below the level of said hair strands inserted into the container to prevent contact of said agent with said strands prior to the desired time of.

such contact, and

e. a plug which is bifurcated to have spreadable arms forming therebetween an aperture through which selected hair strands are adapted to extend, the plug telescopically interfitting said neck when the hair strands are introduced into the container with said aperture collapsed on the strands, the arms being held closed together in response to said telescoping interfitting of the plug and neck.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including said agent in the container, and consisting of hair color alterant, the container being flexed with said closed end portion containing said agent hanging downwardly, as defined.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plug and neck have ribs engaged to retain the plug and neck in telescopic interfitting relation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a flexible plastic tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including multiple like tubes as defined, each tube having a collapsible relatively thin-walled neck, and enclosure means supporting said necks in a row with said bodies hanging therebelow.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including other means acting to hold the arms in closed together relation.

a a t a w 

1. In apparatus for treating human hair, a. a collapsible flexible container to receive pressure displaceable hair treating agent in liquid form, b. said container having an open neck through which hair strands are insertible into the container, c. said container having a closed end portion remote from said neck, whereby the container may be manually progressively collapsed along a path such that the treating agent is displaced toward and into contact with the hair strands introduced into the container via said neck, d. the container flexibility characterized in that the closed end portion of the container with the liquid form treating agent therein will normally hang downwardly below the level of said hair strands inserted into the container to prevent contact of said agent with said strands prior to the desired time of such contact, and e. a plug which is bifurcated to have spreadable arms forming therebetween an aperture through which selected hair strands are adapted to extend, the plug telescopically interfitting said neck when the hair strands are introduced into the container with said aperture collapsed on the strands, the arms being held closed together in response to said telescoping interfitting of the plug and neck.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including said agent in the container, and consisting of hair color alterant, the container being flexed with said closed end portion containing said agent hanging downwardly, as defined.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plug and neck have ribs engaged to retain the plug and neck in telescopic interfitting relation.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a flexible plastic tube.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 including multiple like tubes as defined, each tube having a collapsible relatively thin-walled neck, and enclosure means supporting said necks in a row with said bodies hanging therebelow.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 including other means acting to hold the arms in closed together relation. 